Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-08-18

: groan. made no attempt TO fly, but sinking
= down In the closet, gazed with painful intent
ness into the gloomy hall, which now l dared
, not enter in order to regain my room.
The warning which Mrs. Lynton had given
me flashed into my mind, and tried to scream,
to stir, to do anything which might arouse
the occupants Of the house 10 a sense OF some
menacing danger, but fear had deprived me
of all power save that Of staring helplessly
into the darkness.
. As looked, became conscious that some
one was descending the stairway. An ap-
preaching step defined itself more and more
distinctly, though stealthily, and feeble ray
Of light tinged the utter blackness in the hall.
Ere had fully decided upon the course this
horrifying visitant would take toward its fell
purposes, my heart gave 9 sudden bound OF
relief.
1t was my cousin Dorothy herself, no, can
die in hand, came among the shadows. Unjust
have made some faint sound, for she paused
abruptly, half turned, as II FOR flight listened
an Instant irresolutely, then with the swift uu-
certain motion of an afIrghted Bird fastened
toward her own chamber. | caught one
glimpse OF her face, so banched, so troubled,
so changed from its debonair rosiness, that
lips.
My cousin Dorothy, then, must be aware Of
the presence of the occupant of that upper
chamber! sharp pang of agonized doubt
tortured me at this conviction. Who could 1t
be, thus hidden under a hospltabe and
hitherto most honorable roof Assuredly IL
was not the master of the house, for heard
his half.awakened utterance as stole quietly
| baalf IN NV iptN bo1 I
cd, shivering, repetition of these mysterious
sounds, but the rcmotcncss Of my chamber
doubtless rendered them inaudabe.
heard them many times afterwards; for q
singular fascination drew me nightly, in spite
Of myself, to my former apartment. / said
nothing concerning them to any one, as l felt
myself strangely bound to refrain from reveal
ing my discovery TO Mr.. Lynton himself.
But could not prevent certain sense Of
loathing as l narrowly watched during the
days that followed, my cousin Dorothy. think
she dimly OWNED something OF my feeling,
aud suffered under it. Certainly she grew
thin, and it was clear that she was mentally
much disturbed. Her changcful color, the ncrv-
Gus starts she gave at the unexpected slammlng
OF the door, or the crunch of football upon the
gravel, her covert scrutiny of her husband, all
proved to me that for the first time in her
life, Mrs LayntOn was concealing something
that my cousin Dorothy had a secret. Once
| made an effort TO unveil the the mytsery
for myself. Creeping quietly up the long
stairs hoped to enter that forbidden room.
But the door in the hall leading to IL was
locked and the undisturbed silence quite
shook my belief that it had been tenanted.
Ashamed of suspicious which already seemed
unworthy of me, | went away, feeling half
guilty aud resolved to dismiss the NATTER as
far as possible from my thoughts.
| had been a month at Ernscliff, when,
coming in from a ramblc found talking TO
Mr. LINTON, man whose speech contained an
element entirely unfamiliar to my car He
turned abruptly at my entrance revealing
face ClCar-Cut and handsome, Notwithstanding
its extreme pallor, which his hair and beard,
both black ana silky, served to intensity.
''Miss Lvuton, Mr.. Thancscourt," said my
Cousin Roderick introducing him.
The stranger fixed a grave look upon me,
from eyes Of a deep, fathomcss blue, bowed
courtcously, and resumed his interrupted con-
ycrsaton.
''Ihe applicant for the vacancy at the acad-
emN" explained my Cousin Dorothy, in
swift aside.
"A schoolmaster! At all events, a tall and
MISUNDERSTANDING man." | whispered.
She flashed quick, apprchcnsive glance at
me, then serenely lifted her neglected knit
ting.
do not know how Mr.. Thancscourt induced
Mr.. LINTON, not only TO use his influence In
securing the position he desired, but to re-
ceivc him as a boarder. Ii may have been
proof of the magnetic power which the man
undoubtedly possessed, and, subsequently.
/ exercised impartialIy upon the entire house
| hold | alone held myself aoof from him,
| much, imagined, to the relief of my Cousin
| Dorothy | rarely spoke To him, while he as
seldom addressed his conversation to me.
Always a close reader of the military move
mcnts daily chroniclcd, | now began to exper-
| fence a strange, even malicious pleasure in
discussing news from the seat OF war. learn
cdly explained strategic movements adored
our boys in blue glorihed the skill of our gen.
erals, abused the rebels roundly, and delight
ed the patriotic soul of ny cousin Roderlck
Felix Thancscourt listened attentively,
asked few questions, aud never made direct
comment upon my talk. | never saw him at
all moved by my vivid utterauces; peril APPS
this it was that pIqucd me iuto making them
so frequently.
The academy was not to open its doors for
some weeks, and was surprised to fad that
NJ. ThanescOurt neither left the roof of Mr..
LINTON, nor sought the acquaintance OF the
friends who called. Overlooking with redun-
dant life, came to despisc this man as being
too inert TO follow even the windings Of the
stream, to thread the byways of Ernscliif, or
to cross the gray old bridge above the roaring
| fan h.,
eyes upon me, that my whole being did not
thrill with an emotion half-dclicious, half
rcsentful.
1t was late in in the summer when the
meaning Of it all broke clearly upon me.
do not try to explain the pertlnacity with
which | continued to pay nightly visits to my
old room. But there came an hour when sit
ting there, heard overhead once more, those
same regular footsteps, that same smothered
groan, which OF late had nearly forgotten.
A mad impulse seized me- and, mounting the
stairs, | hurriedly traversed the hall and
quickly threw open the door of that unused
room, so well remembered, though now so
rarely entered. Nv cousin Dorothy leaned
over bed her face white and rigid and half
upright before her sat Felix Thanescourt his
right arm barred and a thin stream of blood
tr!ckling from 1t, upon the white pillow sup
porting it.
''Quickr' cried my cousin, "hand me the
lint therew She appeared entirely to have
forgotten my presence, as, eagerly but deity,
she bandaged the gaping wound.
DO not be alarmed, Miss LINTON" said
Felix, calmly, sit is merely an old wound re-
opened" Then his strength failed him and
} he sank back white and CHASTITY against his
pillows
went over to my cousin, in whose checks a
faint red was beginning To burn. "Oh, Doro-
thyn' cried. "FOrgive--" But could not
end my speech for the bitter contrtion felt
! over the wrong had done her.
$50 away" said Felix, as bent over him,
shaking with terror There was n kind Of
sternness in his voice. but his eyes were very
soft. $50 away" he repeated. ''YOu must
not touch me, Miss Marjorie"
81 understand now" faltered, turning my
gaze away with a sudden rapture of tender
ness. In that moment he comprehendcd,
think, all that the summer had brought to me.
J My Cousin Dorothy saw 1t too, and threw her